Costa Rica Cuisine

The key word which characterizes the cuisine of Costa Rica is simplicity. Main ingredients are rice and beans, which are present practically in every recipe. The usual salad served in the country consists of cabbage, and a couple tomatoes. Talking about meat, we can say that beef is the most popular one. It is cooked in a wide assortment of styles; preferably beef is prepared in much the same way as in the United States. One of traditional foods of Costa Rica is called Olla de Carne. It is a combination of chunks of meat, tubers and corn in a thick beef broth. The tourists should also try Mondongo (beef stomach soup). Not less tasty are Sopa negra (black beans with a poached egg), Picadillo (meat and vegetable stew), and Bocas (savory snacks served at bars or before main meals in restaurants). The locals refer to eat a lot of fruit, especially bananas, mangoes pineapples, papayas and a variety of melons. The coffee, however, is served throughout the country. Horchata is another favorite drink. It is a rice drink mixed with cinnamon and sugar, with emphasis on the cinnamon.